About 30 brigade and battalion commanders received an introduction to the garrison's resiliency programs during an Army Ready and Resilient Campaign orientation on Jan. 21.

The orientation is required by the Department of the Army, said Chris Thiel, chief of training at the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. Command teams and joint service commanders also were invited. A previous orientation was held in October.

The orientation included several garrison representatives who gave brief presentations on a wide range of programs, including the Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program, a component of the Ready and Resilient Campaign; Master Resilience Training; Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention; Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center's Behavioral Health Department; the Army Substance Abuse Program; and the ArmyWellness Center.

CSF2 is a key component of the Ready and Resilient Campaign and focuses on five dimensions of strength: physical, family, social, emotional and spiritual.

Staff Sgt. Levon Moody, a small-group leader at the Signal Corps Regimental NCO Academy Detachment, is Fort George G. Meade's CSF2 program manager. Moody told the participants that one of the goals of the program is to "help our soldiers and families cope with the issues they may have when arriving at a new duty station."

An important part of CSF2 is Master Resilience Training, which is targeted to drill sergeants, squad leaders, platoon leaders, first sergeants and company commanders who teach resilient skills to soldiers in their units.

Moody said there are more than 50 MRTs on post who support CSF2.

The garrison is required to provide 16 hours of resiliency training to new soldiers within 90 days of their arrival at Fort Meade. Training takes place during the in-processing for soldiers.

Hale said senior leaders have "established a command climate where people can come forward." But, she said, "one report is one too many."

Hale handed out copies of the Army's SHARP Guidebook, which defines sexual harassment and sexual assault, and educated commanders on how they should respond to reports of alleged sexual harassment or sexual assault within their units.

According to Army statistics, female soldiers between the ages of 18 and 24, who are within the first 18 months of their enlistment, are most vulnerable to becoming victims of sexual assault.

In addition, 35 percent of sexual assaults began as sexual harassment that went unchecked.

Maj. Lucas Frank, battalion executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 312th Regiment, said it is the responsibility of senior leaders to ensure that soldiers get the help they need. "There is a wealth of Army programs out there that are designed to help soldiers and their families," he said. "It is our job as Army leaders to match up the right soldier with the right program to ensure that the programs are utilized."

Mina, the daughter of Heritage Park resident Amy Jorgensen, could not wait to go outside to make a snow angel after lunch on Jan. 21. A fast-moving storm delivered a wintry blast of snow, which produced as much as 7 inches in the Fort Meade-Baltimore area and topped 11 inches in other parts of the state. Mina, the daughter of Heritage Park resident Amy Jorgensen, could not wait to go outside to make a snow angel after lunch on Jan. 21. A fast-moving storm delivered a wintry blast of snow, which produced as much as 7 inches in the Fort Meade-Baltimore area and topped 11 inches in other parts of the state.

Residents in Fairborn, Ohio, have had few outlets for cooling off during the hot summer months since their local public pool was closed in 2009 and subsequently demolished. Construction of a new pool was not in the budget, but that didn't stop the Fairborn Parks and Recreation Division from looking for other solutions. This past summer, through a partnership with the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, residents were overjoyed to have access to the base's Prairie Pool for the summer.

A Call to Action for the Aquatics Industry
For many wounded warriors, aquatic therapy stands as one of the most effective means of treating both physical and mental injuries. Community aquatic centers, YMCAs, university facilities and others should take the lead in making free access to such facilities for veterans a top priority. read more

The Armed Forces have long been seen as the epitome of fitness, trailblazing the way for new and evermore impressive exercise programs. Look no further than TRX and other suspension-training offshoots, bootcamp-style workouts and military-inspired obstacle runs, to name a few examples.

Northwestern's football team will wear special uniforms for its game against Michigan later this month. The patriotic red, white and blue design is meant to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit that works to empower injured veterans. The game-worn jerseys will then be auctioned off with 100 percent of the proceeds benefitting the charity.